Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has raised an alarm about the persistent prevalence of extortion and corruption within the Passport Office.
Following a visit to the Passport Office on Monday, August 14, the Minister expressed her astonishment at the unethical practices that applicants have been subjected to by certain individuals within the office.
According to a 2021 report by the UNODC, passport agency officials were identified among the public servants who most frequently accept bribes in Ghana. The report highlighted that 29 percent of Passport officials were involved in collecting bribes, averaging GHS 392 per instance.
The Minister lamented the existence of such extortion and disrespect within an institution that plays a crucial role in facilitating international travel.
As a result, the Minister has instructed employees seconded to the Passport Office not to report for duty starting from Monday, August 21, 2023.
In an interview, she emphasized that a thorough investigation has been launched to address this distressing situation. The inquiry has unveiled the presence of a network operating in collaboration with personnel within the Passport Office.
The Minister expressed her dismay at the common attribution of corruption solely to politicians and her ministry. She highlighted the reality that many instances of malpractice involve civil servants, emphasizing, “It is disheartening that while blame is often laid at the feet of politicians, it is, in fact, some public servants who engage in these wrongful acts, which are then mistakenly ascribed to politicians.”
Notably, she urged those with more than a year’s tenure at the Passport Office to abstain from returning to work as the office undergoes a transformative phase aimed at restoring integrity.
She said, “Everybody who has been here for more than one year, from Monday on, please do not come back because you have been changed We want to restore some sanity. Every time politicians are corrupt, meanwhile, it is some public civil servants who will do things that shouldn’t be done, and then they will be put on politicians”.
The Minister disclosed that the ongoing efforts to streamline operations at the Passport Office through digitization have faced obstacles due to certain civil servants manipulating the online application system for personal gain.
Looking ahead, she conveyed that the impending issuance of the Ghana card to all citizens will render many agencies within the Passport Office redundant, leaving only the essential printing department.
In her concluding statements, Minister Ayorkor Botchwey urged Passport Office personnel to refrain from engaging in extortion practices. She emphasized the importance of maintaining professional integrity, adhering to high standards of work, and treating applicants with utmost respect.
Meanwhile, investigations into the activities of the “goro boys,” who exploit applicants with the involvement of office staff, are ongoing. The Minister highlighted that these external individuals cannot operate independently but require collusion with certain individuals within the Passport Office.
She cautioned that those found responsible will face legal consequences as a deterrent to others.